Global molybdenum production and use increases in 2018

13 May 2019

Global production of molybdenum in 2018 rose by 1% to 571 million pounds from 568.2 million pounds in 2017, figures released recently by the International Molybdenum Association (IMOA) show. Global use was 582.8 million pounds in 2018, a rise of 4% from 558 million pounds in 2017.

China remained the largest producer with 201.9 million pounds in 2018, up 1% from 200.2 million pounds in 2017. North America produced 134.5 million pounds in 2018, a rise of 5% from 127.6 million pounds in 2017. Production in Q4 of 2018 rose significantly by 13% in comparison to Q3, with a rise of 29% in China, 11% in North America and a 3% rise in South America but a 1% fall in other regions.

China remained the largest user of molybdenum, at 214.5 million pounds a 6% increase from 202.3 million pounds in 2017. Europe remained the second largest user at 143.3 million pounds, a 2% increase from 140.5 million pounds in 2017. Japan saw one of the biggest percentage rises in use from 52.2 million pounds in 2017 to 56.4 million pounds in 2018 an 8% increase. Use in the USA increased 5% to 60.0 million pounds from 57.2 million pounds in 2017.